Self-isolation, quarantine and California's stay-at-home order: What the terms mean and how they differ

Some Bay Area localities have issued shelter-in-place orders. Is it okay to go outside, if you avoid crowds? What precautions should you take?

Posted: Mar 20, 2020 10:39 AM

Updated: Mar 20, 2020 9:15 PM

Posted By: CNN

Isolation, quarantine, shelter in place. These are terms we're hearing a lot of these days, as authorities try to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus that's sweeping the United States and the rest of the world.

They're not the same thing, though they all have the goal of keeping others from getting infected. But what do they mean, exactly?

Here are some brief explanations.

Quarantine

This is for people who may have been exposed to the virus. They are asked to stay at home, or as in the case with people who were repatriated from China to the United States, to stay in a provided facility.

They're required to be in quarantine for 14 days. After that, people who still don't test positive for the virus no longer have to be in a contained environment.

Some people may choose or be asked toself-quarantine, meaning they do it voluntarily just because they think they may have been exposed or they are being just cautious.

Governments -- federal, state and local -- can order quarantines, and in fact, those repatriated from China were under a federal quarantine order.

Isolation

This is for people who actually have the virus or suspect they may be infected.

Those with the virus who need to be hospitalized will be kept in an isolation unit.

People who have been infected with the virus may be asked to self-isolate at home if they have no symptoms or are only mildly ill.

It's important to call your health provider, in any case, if you develop symptoms.

Those in isolation should keep away from other people as much as possible. The CDC recommends that you use a separate bathroom, if available, wear a face mask when around others, and don't share household items.

Shelter in place

Until this week, the term 'shelter in place' meant for most people an active shooter situation -- stay where you until the coast is clear.

The order will remain in place 'until further notice,' the governor's office said.

This was the first statewide order of its kind in response to the coronavirus.

The governor said he didn't believe California residents needed to 'be told through law enforcement that it's appropriate just to home isolate and protect themselves.'

'There's a social contract here. People I think recognize the need to do more and to meet this moment,' Newsom said. 'People will self-regulate their behavior, they'll begin to adjust and adapt as they have been quite significantly.'

Residents can still go out for essential needs as long as they are practicing social distancing and 'common sense,' the governor said.

Services including gas stations, pharmacies, grocery stores, farmer markets, and restaurants (providing only takeout and delivery options) as well as banks and laundromats will remain open, the governor's office said.

Dine-in restaurants, bars, nightclubs, entertainment venues, gyms and fitness studios and convention centers will be closed. Public events and gatherings are also not allowed, the office said.

New York, Connecticut and Illinois all joined California on Friday in ordering all nonessential employees to remain at home in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The executive order goes into effect on Sunday night for New York, while Connecticut's order goes into effect Monday at 8 p.m. For Illinois, the order starts at 5 p.m. Saturday.

'Every state will head this way,' CNN national security analyst Juliette Kayyem said Friday morning. 'People need to prepare themselves that this gets harder before this gets easier.'

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